The Tactical RPG That Fans Can't Stop Playing On The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo recently added a "Most Played" list to its eShop, surprising fans with an official list of the trendiest Switch games. As per a transcribed list on Reddit, the most popular games of the moment vary between many genres from sports games to SRPGs. Of course, some titles like "Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl" aren't that much of a surprise, but what people didn't expect is that "Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny" would rise to the top.

As per the Nintendo eShop description, the list includes the games with the "longest average play time over the past two weeks." So, while some games might have an overall higher playtime over their lifetime, these are the current games players are interested in. "Disgaea 6" released on June 29, 2021 and received middling reviews, though it looks like that didn't stop people from boosting it to the top of the "Most Played" list. It's even trending overseas in the UK, too. Top games differ depending on the country, though some games still rank high across different regions.

Here's what you need to know about this surprisingly popular tactical RPG.

"Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny" features Zed, a zombie who wants to defeat a disruptive god terrorizing their home. He and his sister Bieko leave the lowest rung of the Netherworld to recruit other colorful characters to their army so that they can defeat the God of Destruction. "Disgaea" resembles "Fire Emblem" in terms of gameplay, which involves strategically placing characters across the map like pieces on a chessboard. However, the cutesy, chibi art and storyline differ greatly from the popular SRPG series. "Disgaea 6" is only the latest installment of a long-running franchise. The first "Disgaea" game came out in 2003, alongside "Kingdom Hearts" and other JRPG classics. It's not a completely unknown game, though it's not as popular as others from its generation. 

Some fans speculate that how much time players spend on time-consuming games, like story-based and tactical RPGs, affected how highly the game ranked in comparison to better-known titles. It looks like some JRPG fans are still grinding through "Shin Megami Tensei V," which placed eighth on the list. Other unexpectedly popular titles included "Football Manager 2022 Touch" and "AAA Clock," which follow "Disgaea 6" in the rankings.